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Wolfson makes return for 27th Children's Benefit

Tue, 05/17/2016 - 4:55amPalatka1

By:

Greg Walker

The Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament (WCH) returns to the Palatka riverfront this week to celebrate its 27th year benefiting the hospital at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville. Last year the sponsors and participants contributed over $140,000 and to date, the WCH has raised over $2 million.

The WCH is the largest single-day bass tournament in the state and guarantees $50,000 in cash prizes, featuring a $10,000 first place, and $5,000 to the team that brings the largest bass to the scales.

WCH organizers and volunteers will arrive Wednesday morning at the Palatka Riverfront to set up for the weekend event, said director Mike Bach of Jacksonville.

The three-tournament, three-day event gets under way Thursday with the Lads and Lasses with a first-place prize of $1,000 and big bass prize of $1.000. Friday will be the VIP Friends Tournament, where anglers will be fishing for a $1,000 first-place check and a $1,000 big bass check.

Saturday will be the WCH main event, where officials are expecting over 400 boats. Last year’s tournament drew 442 boats from Florida and surrounding states.

Following the weigh-in there will be a huge sponsor-donated merchandise raffle for spectators and fishermen. Tickets will be available for $1 each during tournament days. The tournament concludes with a drawing for a fully rigged 2016 Bullet 21XRS Bass Boat with Boat Mate Trailer, and a Mercury 225 ProSX Motor. Tickets will be available during the tournament days for a $10 donation.

Concessions will be available during tournament days,

Anglers will gather for the sign-in at the City Docks area on the morning of each tournament to receive boat number decals and captain’s bags.